Say Goodbye To Traditional Hardware: This Kitchen Cabinet Trend Is Taking Over

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When looking for ways to express your personality through interior design, you're probably thinking about major renovations. But making home upgrades doesn't have to rhyme with expensive big-scale projects. In fact, sometimes, it's all about the smallest details. For example, hardware for kitchen cabinets is evolving. Say goodbye to basic cabinet hardware that's only good for functionality, and bring new shapes into the smallest details of your kitchen.

The newest trend of hardware isn't just knobs and pulls with colors slapped onto them. Instead, it's all about materials and shapes to bring something truly fresh and unique into your home. For example, leather loops, wooden half-circles, and fun-shaped ceramic knobs are upgrading basic cabinets and giving them life. Some homeowners are even opting for sculptural knobs and pulls made of metal, which look like elegant pieces of jewelry. You can even give your kitchen a historical touch with vintage hardware styles. This trend is a fantastic way to make your home look high-end and expensive without having to splurge on a full kitchen makeover.

There are several types of cabinet hardware to choose from. Traditionally, cabinets have knobs and pulls. The former is a small piece of hardware that you can easily grab with your hand to open standard cabinet doors. Pulls tend to be longer and can work vertically on cabinets and horizontally on drawers. More unique pieces generally still fall under those two categories, even if they're a bit more unique in shape and size. For example, you'll find loops that act as knobs, and strips that work as pulls.

To find unique hardware, look beyond the kitchen aisle. In decor stores, thrift shops, and antique malls, you can look at knobs and pulls that were originally designed for other rooms. Small animals designed for kids' bedrooms, or sculptural pieces meant for living rooms, can make your kitchen look truly unique. The key, however, is to make sure that the hardware is made of materials that are durable, can sustain moisture, and are easy to clean. With cooking and baking nearby, you want to avoid knobs covered with thread and fabric, for example.

This cabinet hardware trend can give your kitchen an upgrade on a budget, especially if you're only swapping a few knobs and pulls at a time. For an eclectic look, use some unique shapes as accents and keep the rest of the hardware simple. For example, use two Brook and Birch Fox Antique Brass Cabinet Drawer Knobs, and use basic brass around them. Other options include these ESreake Vintage Tree Twig Pulls or small Soffee Design Decorative Metal Bee Shape Knobs.

You can also find entire sets on Etsy, where all of the hardware pieces look similar in style but use different shapes and colors. If you've got a larger budget to work with, look at high-end companies that produce individual pieces of hardware. These retail between $20 and $60 each, but they're truly unique and unlike all the knobs you've seen before. Some of these companies even offer bespoke options if you're looking for something one-of-a-kind.